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Bluesound Node Does Not Stream Pandora...bummer!

I bought a Bluesound Node, only to find out that it does not stream Pandora directly. I’m bummed.
I use Pandora for their jazz artist ’radio’ stations. The algorithm they use to conjure up playlists is truly outstanding. I’ve discovered so much new music and so many new artists because of it. I’ve tried all of the other pay services to test their ability to create great playlists for jazz, but no one does it like Pandora. Is there another streamer of equal sound quality and similar price range that plays Pandora?

Tidal, Napster, Amazon Music and internet radio sound wonderful on this unit....but I need my Pandora for new music!  The Node will play Pandora through my phone via Bluetooth, but the sound quality is not up to snuff, direct is the only way to go.
128x128mitch4t
14 responses Add your response
mahler123
3,032 posts
 
That’s a bummer.  I thought Bluesound ran everything.  Is it to late to return the Node?  My first thought would be to return it and get a Cambridge Audio streamer or another streamer that has AirPlay and Chromecast, both of which are big sonic improvements over Bluetooth.  Then you are covered, because if the streamer doesn’t directly stream Pandora (or if it currently does but then a divorce happens between Pandora and the streamer company) you are covered.
  Second option is to run a digital cable out of your phone (PC, or tablet) into the digital input of the Node.  If you are outputting the Node into an external DAC, then dispense with the Node altogether and run the cable directly into the DAC
Post removed 
fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,498 posts
 
Load piCorePlayer into any Raspberry Pi. LMS under it runs about any service except for snot nosed Apple and Amazon.
OR miniDSP Studio runs a custom Volumio with a Pandora (home page) plug-in.
It pays dividends to research before the "oh no" moment.
Like when I bought a new preamp and found that it, like most now, gave up the tape loop.
DOH
mitch4t's avatar
mitch4t OP
1,602 posts
 
fuzztone2........... 
You’re absolutely correct about research before buying, I’ve bought a jillion audio items over the last 20 years and I should’ve known better to check first. Before I bought the unit, I was thinking "who doesn’t have Pandora?" I figured Pandora was a surefire gimme on all streamers...WRONG!

I bought the unit on Amazon and they have a very liberal return policy, but the problem is that I’ve really fallen in love with everything else the unit offers.
Post removed 
fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,498 posts
 
Actually ery few have Pandora.
And every network player has different features.
Just because they call it a streamer don’ mean it’ll stream what you want into what you want.
I ppinted a Pandora fanperson to a Mano Ultra and an RME DAC and he loves them.
I still have my BluNode but it’s in a secondary system. The other five are better.
Fortunately we learn our lessons.
theo's avatar
theo
2,659 posts
 
I kept one Sonos Connect in my main system just because of pandora. I use the optical out into the Bluesound that I can benefit from the Chord Cutest. I had too many Sonos products around the house to make the full change over to Bluesound through out the house.
geof3
1,124 posts
 
The Node will play Pandora just fine. Open the app (Pandora) on your phone (IPhone assuming) or iPad and simply airplay it to the Node. I do it all the time when noodling around the house. Easy Peasy.
mitch4t's avatar
mitch4t OP
1,602 posts
 
geof3, I have an iPhone and tried that route.
The sound is woefully inferior to everything else that plays direct through the Node…even internet radio direct through the Node beats the socks off of Pandora via AirPlay through the Node.  I’m looking for a solution of direct play.
geof3
1,124 posts
 
@mitch4t you said you tried Bluetooth. Airplay is not through Bluetooth. It is through the NODE same sample rate etc. the Airplay connection is WiFi. Should be night and day.
geof3
1,124 posts
 
One other thing… Pandora overall quality is NOT hifi keep in mind. You may be hearing the inferiority of Pandora, not the connection type as well. 
mitch4t's avatar
mitch4t OP
1,602 posts
 
geof3,
...when I do it through AirPlay, it sounds like the life has been sucked out of it.  Before I got the Node I was playing Pandora on my phone through a bluetooth adapter on my stereo....even that was more satisfactory than Airplay. 

I'm buying an old Sonos Connect unit from eBay for dirt cheap, it plays Pandora direct.
kgveteran
377 posts
 

Pandora is now offered as a streaming service on Bluesound nodes

mitch4t's avatar
mitch4t OP
1,602 posts
 

 

  kgveteran

Thank you for the heads up!

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